Hemaya Universal and Saudi Consumer Protection Society (SCPS) have signed a strategic partnership agreement for the First Arab Consumer and Brand Protection Forum in Jeddah from October 19 to 21.

The Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and the Arab League, in cooperation with Hemaya Universal, are sponsoring the forum under the auspices of Prince Khalid Al-Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, Governor of Makkah region.

The forum has the following objectives:

• Protecting consumers and owners of intellectual property rights and brands from fraud and counterfeiting by formulating mechanisms to address their problems

• Raising public awareness on the negative impact of fraud and counterfeiting on Arab consumers, economies and societies

• Making recommendations to combat counterfeiting and brand piracy through organising symposiums, lectures and awareness programs

• Exchanging experiences and information with related institutions, regional bodies and international organisations.

• Adopting strategies to fight commercial fraud and counterfeiting

• Activating cooperation and coordination among organizations, individuals and institutions involved in combating commercial fraud and counterfeiting

• Coordinating efforts of global organisations, public bodies and businesses so as to rid Arab communities of the negative impact of counterfeiting

Dr Mohammed Bin Abdelkarim Al-Hamad, chairman of Saudi Consumer Protection Society and Ahmed Bin Suleiman Al-Zubaidi, CEO of Hemaya Universal, signed a memorandum of understanding in Riyadh in this regard.
 
Dr Al-Hamad said the strategic partnership is broadly aimed at protecting Saudi consumer and society through awareness programmes and distribution of periodicals and pamphlets.

For the forum, the society will offer support through participating in symposiums and conferences, coordinating efforts to invite local and foreign organisations – official and academic – and engaging in assessing the proposed topics to be addressed.

Hemaya is in the forefront of Arab world efforts to raise consumer awareness. Its campaign to rid Arab markets of substandard goods is particularly significant in view of the recent surge in prices of most consumer goods, including foodstuff, in Saudi Arabia.

The Council of Ministers recently approved the constitution of SCPS as the country’s apex executive body to protect the interests of consumers, preserve their rights and take up their concerns with public and private parties.

The society is tasked with protecting consumers in the Kingdom against fraud, counterfeiting and deception in goods and services, preventing inflated prices and spreading awareness on rational consumption.

’We are trying to unite efforts with our partners for the participation of all concerned parties in the Forum,’ said Al Zubaidi - TradeArabia News service